Cameras catch CSU assistant coach mouth apparent slur at WSU QB

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — This wasn’t the kind of national attention CSU’s football program was looking for in the New Mexico Bowl.

ESPN cameras caught CSU assistant coach Greg Lupfer mouthing what appeared to be a homophobic slur, proceeded by a profanity, at Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday during a brief exchange after the first of Halliday’s six touchdown passes.

Video of the exchange went viral within minutes, appearing on Dead spin.com and dozens of sports-oriented websites before halftime. The consensus among those who tried to interpret Lupfer’s words, based only on the video with no audio available, was that he called Halliday a “f ------ f----t”, which was basically the headline that appeared over the video clip on Deadspin .com.

“Coach grabbed me and said some profane things to me,” Halliday said afterward. “That’s all I’ll say about it.”

Athletic director Jack Graham pulled Lupfer aside during the Rams’ postgame celebration, and the defensive line coach looked sullen as he went over to talk to his wife, Tina. Athletic director Jack Graham wouldn’t offer details of the discussion he and Lupfer had about the incident.

“I’m aware of the situation,” Graham told the Coloradoan. “I’ve seen the footage. We’ll do a complete investigation around the matter. On the surface, it doesn’t look good, and if it is what it appears it was, it’s inappropriate, it’s unacceptable, and we’ll deal with it.

“It’s not who we are or what we are. And we’ll deal with it.”

CSU did not make Lupfer available to reporters afterward but later issued an apology by him through the school’s CSU Football Twitter account.

“I am truly sorry for what I said,” the tweet read.

“It was wrong and those words do not represent who I am and what I believe in. I apologize for the embarrassment I caused for Colorado State University, this team and my family.”

BIBBS BREAKS RECORD: Running back Kapri Bibbs broke CSU’s single-season record for rushing yards with 1,741. The previous record was 1,601 by Cecil Sapp in 2002.

Bibbs ran for 169 yards and three touchdowns in the bowl game, giving him 31 TDs on the season — adding to his school and Mountain West Conference records. He’s only the third player ever at the NCAA’s highest level of play to run for 30 or more touchdowns in a season, joining Barry Sanders (37 in 1988) and Montee Ball (33 in 2011).

BIBBS OUTSCORES HOME TEAM: Bibbs scored more touchdowns (nine) in his two games this season at New Mexico’s University Stadium than any of New Mexico’s players did in their six home contests. Running back Kasey Carrier was the Lobos’ touchdown leader with nine, in both home and away games.

GRAYSON TIES TD RECORD: CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson threw for 369 yards to increase his school-record for passing yards in a season to 3,696 and threw two touchdown passes.

His 23 touchdown passes this season tie Justin Holland’s 2005 school record.

TICKET TALLY: CSU distributed 5,105 tickets to the game, while Washington State distributed 4,605, officials of both schools said. Those included complimentary tickets for players’ families, the marching bands and athletic department staff.

CSU sold 3,909 tickets, including those that were purchased for veterans and active military through donations made by fans. Washington State did not have a breakdown of how many of its total were actually sold.

CSU distributed 5,060 tickets when it last played in the New Mexico Bowl in 2008.